Hat case or valise.



No. 639,050. Patented Dec.l2, I899.

- N. F. HURDEL.

HAT CASE 0R VALISE.

(Application filed Apr. 8, 1897. Renewedmay 20, 1899.)

(No Model.)

wrrnn STATES PATEN rrrcn.

NELLIE F. I-IURDEL, OF NEl/V YORK, N. Y.

HAT CASE OR VALISE.

ermine-Arrow forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,050, dated. December12, 189i).

Application filed April 8,1897. Renewed May 20, 1899. Serial No.717,645. (No model.)

To all whom it ntay concern:

Be it known that I, NELLIE F. HURDEL, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Hat Casesor Valises, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in hatcases and valises and more particularly to that class in which a numberof hats are placed in one receptacle.

The object of this invention is to provide a hat-case in which a numberof hats may be easily and quickly packed and supported within the casein such manner that they cannot be mashed or injured.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hat-case which isexceedingly cheap and simple in its construction, also durable andconvenient for travelers, and one that may be quickly and easilyadjusted to receive either mens or womens hats of different sizes.

With these objects in view my invention consists in the particularconstruction of the various parts and in the novel manner of combinationand arrangement of said parts, all of which will be describedhereinafter, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the case closed. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing thecase open with the cylindrical tube or shaft held in place, having thehat-supporting arms mounted thereon. Fig. 3 is also a perspective Viewshowing the case open with the shaft in position to have thesupporting-arms placed thereon or removed. Fig. 4 is a detail viewshowing the form of supportingarm used in connection with mens hats.Fig. 5*is also a detail view of the supportingarm, showing a hat heldtherein.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the case, which may be made ofany suitable material and in any form or shape desired in which the caseis centrally divided and connected by hinges a CL. It is also providedwith a handle I; in the center of the said case and suitable lockingmeans 0.

Supported within one side of the case, ap-

proximately near the hinges, is a hollow cy lindrical tube or shaft B,which is perforated and closed at both ends, having one end providedwith'a hinge d, which is secured to one end of the case. This hingeprevents the said shaft from turning and also allows the same to swingout of its horizontal position in the case in order that thehat-supporting arms 0 may be easily and quickly placed thereon orremoved, as desired. end of the shaft is provided with a lug e,whichengages a recess in the spring D when the said shaft is in place.

The hat-supporting arms 0 are formed with semicircular wires, havingsecured to one end a pad or cushion E and to the other a sleeve orcollar F, adapted to fit closely over the shaft and provided with athumb-screwy, which engages the said perforation and affords means fortightening the arm upon the said shaft in any position desired. Thelower arms of the semicircular wires or the'arms which extend at rightangles to the shaft are of a sufficient length to give the upper arm orthe arm parallel to the shaft a central location in the case. A womanshat is used in connection with this form of hat-supporting arm, and inusing the same the hat is placed upon the knob and secured thereto bythrusting an ordinary hat-pin through both the hat and cushioned knob.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a modified form of the hat-supporting arm, whichis to be used in connection with mens hats or similar hats used bywomen. The manner of adjustment upon the shaft is substantially thesame, having an arm secured thereto extending at a right angle to thesaid shaft, and mounted upon this arm, in the center of the case, is thesupport proper, consisting of two fiat spring-steel dependent arms 9 g,secured by one end to the said arm and extending up at an angle lessthan a right angle thereto, then bent in opposite directions, bothparallel to the said arm, and having secured upon their ends, at equaldistances from the center, a wire frame h, consisting of a single pieceof wire bent in the form of a link, with its sides sufficiently apart toreceive the brim of a hat, as shown in Fig. 5. bent semicircular, andthe portions 2' of the said link are bent perpendicular thereto in Theloose The link is also order to leave the ends open and to provide asupport for the upper side of the link. An ordinary flat band is clampedaround the dependent arms and adapted to slide thereupon,

5 thus affording means for operating the support and clamping a hattherein.

It will thus be seen that I provide an eX- ceedingly cheap and simpleform of hat-support which may be employed in travelingcases,shipping-boxes, and show-cases and one that will proficiently performall of its intended functions. My device may also be employed in closetsand wardrobes in lieu of hat-boxes by suspending the same in anyconvenient place by means of a strap or loop attached to the toplock-hinge.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a hat-supporting case, the combination of two similar parts hingedtogether, having secured in one side thereof a longitudinal shaft,adapted to support a series of vertical adjustable hat-supporting armsarranged one above the other and provided with clamps, said shaft hingedto one end of the case approximately near the said hinge and providedwith a lug upon the other end, said lug to engage a recess in a springon the opposite endof the case, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a hat-case, the combination of two similar parts hinged together,having a shaft secured therein, said shaft provided with hatsupporti'ngarms, arranged adj ustably thereupon and one above the other, saidsupporting-arms constructed of a piece of wire provided at its lower endwith a sleeve or collar, and at its upper end with a clamp,substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NELLIE F. HURDEL. \Vitnesses:

O. H. FOWLER,

WILLARD H. MYERs.

